Why the Leafs need to stay away from Erik Karlsson
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Although Erik Karlsson would certainly help the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup, after recent comments from a former owner; staying away might be in their best interest.
A lot of discussion this offseason revolved around Erik Karlsson and whether Pittsburgh is going to end up trading the future Hall of Fame defenseman and accelerate their rebuild while also getting out from his enormous contract.
No doubt any team would be improved with Karlsson's ability on the ice, and he's clearly been one of the league's most respected players over the last decade and a half.
If you were to talk with San Jose Sharks owner Hasso Plattner however, he would tell you a very different story.
Why Karlsson May Not Fit Brad Treliving's Vision for the Maple Leafs
To him, while Karlsson was a good idea on paper and he could help the team at both ends, he was less than thrilled about how the defender conducted himself:
You know his qualities and you know his deficiencies, he was not the most, how do I say it, team-friendly player.
Bold words coming from someone who has so much skin in the game, and we can see that Karlsson's on-ice ability may underscore his locker room mentality.
It also comes with Plattner flat out admitting that he regrets some moves the team made, most importantly not bringing in Tim Stutzle; who ironically is thriving with Karlsson's former team:
Plattner also stunned the San Jose fans with his reluctance to tank, and his cries of 'No McKenna here!' prove that the Sharks think they are closer to a playoff spot than others.
All of the negativity surrounding Karlsson's attitude needs to put the Toronto Maple Leafs on notice, as they just got rid of one toxic locker room presence in Mitch Marner.
Bringing in Karlsson, who may expect too much from his teammates and alienate the new identity the team is trying to implement might not be worth the talent.
Sure, he has 870 career points, is a 3x Norris winner, and is only a couple seasons removed from an astounding 101-point season.
Yet, for all the offensive punch there's not only his contract to deal with, but with a resurgent Morgan Rielly trying to gain his footing; it would show a complete lack of trust in Toronto's most loyal player.
How strong the bond is behind the scenes plays heavily into how they play on the ice, and fans know first-hand how bad things can get with certain people.
The team has been built on unity, loyalty and an 'all for one and one for all' attitude, so bringing in Karlsson might end up clashing with that vision.
The Maple Leafs need for offense on the blue line is undeniable, but at the cost of ruining a locker room that just became closer than ever.
And it's up to Brad Treliving to balance that brotherhood with an explosive talent up front.
